Hinds Co., MS History

History of Mississippi from the Discovery of the Great River 
by Hernando DeSoto, including the Earliest Settlement made by the 
French under Iberville, to The Death of Jefferson Davis. By Robert 
Lowry and William H. McCardle. R. H. Henry and Co., Jackson, 1891.

HINDS COUNTY p. 483-490

Hinds County was established February 12th, 1821, and named in honor of 
General Thomas Hinds; carved out of that tract of country ceded to the 
United States by the Choctaw tribe of Indians, on the 18th day of 
October, 1820. On February 4th, 1828, the Legislature provided for the 
election of five commissioners to select a site for the courthouse and 
jail of the county, and to locate the same either at Clinton, or within 
two miles of the center of the county. On the 17th of January, 1829, an 
act was passed directing that the courts should be held at Raymond, and 
that all books, records and papers belonging to the respective offices 
should be removed to that place.

Among the first settlers of the county were Benj. F. Smith, Wm. W. 
Walker, Chas. M. Lawson, all of whom represented the county in the 
Legislature; W. J. Austin, Silas Brown, Hiram G. Runnels, who were also 
members of the Legislature; 

Judge Isaac Caldwell, member of the State Senate, killed in a duel by 
Samuel Gwin, who received a wound from which he afterwards died; 

Ralph Stovall, whose widow lived to be one hundred and one years of 
age; she was the mother of twenty-two children; the present deputy 
sheriff L. F. Chiles, is the grandson of Mrs. Stovall’s seventeenth 
daughter; 

W. H. Bradley, J. B. Robertson, settled near where Brownsville is now 
located; 

J. J. Birdsong, W. Moffatt, Washington and Wesley Farr, near where 
Bolton now stands; 

Daniel Thomas, for several terms sheriff of the county, was an early 
settler on Baker’s Creek; he was the father of Samuel B. Thomas, who 
was Colonel of the Twelfth Regiment during the war, and like his 
honored father served the county most acceptably as sheriff for a 
decade or more;

Rev. Lewis B. Holloway, a Baptist minister, with his two stepsons John 
R. and Jas. M. Chiles, were among the early settlers of Jackson; 

Leroy H. Tatum, Jas. Satterfield, Hugh McGowan and Rev. Jesse Woodall, 
a Baptist minister, settled in what was afterwards known as the Byram 
neighborhood; 

John Rimes was the head of what was known as the Rimes colony. 

Hon. Henry G. Johnston represented the county in the Legislature and 
was probate judge. He married the daughter of Gov. Walter Leake, and 
was the father of W. L. Johnston, now residing in or near Clinton. 

The late Hon. Amos R. Johnston, a lawyer of ability and an advocate of 
great power, represented the county in the Legislature fifty-five years 
ago. When a young man he was probate judge, was one of the authors of 
the Revised Code of 1871, and represented the counties of Hinds and 
Rankin in the State Senate; he was the father of Capt. Frank and Dr. 
Wirt Johnston, each prominent in their respective professions, the 
former a learned and acc.......physicians of the Sate, and since its 
organization a member of the State Board of Health. 

Henry S. Foote, referred to elsewhere in this volume, was the father of 
H. S. Foote, former district attorney in the Jackson district, an 
excellent lawyer and genial gentleman, now on the bench in California. 
Governor Foote was the father-in-law of Hon. Wm. M. Stewart, United 
States Senator from Nevada and noted for his independence of thought 
and conservatism; 

Dr. New, Samuel Gwin, James McRaven, Rev. Daniel Comfort, widely known 
as a distinguished educator; 

Hon. John I. Guion, who was Circuit Judge, State Senator, and as 
President of the Senate, succeeded to the Governship; 

Alex. K. McClung, referred to in preceding pages; 

Judge Daniel Mayes, who was Circuit Judge in his native State, 
Kentucky, and Professor of Law in Transylvania College, was a profound 
and learned lawyer; he was the father of Hon. Herman Mayes, elsewhere 
referred to, also of Hon. Edward Mayes, of Oxford, before referred to 
in this volume. Judge Mayes was the father-in-law of Hon. Wiley P. 
Harris, to whom reference has been previously made; he was also the 
father-in-law of the late Hon. Geo. L. Potter, a lawyer of recognized 
ability, research and learning, of modest habits and great purity of 
character; his sons George, Daniel and Wiley H. Potter are still 
residents of the county, and the latter its efficient Circuit Clerk; 

Hon. Caswell R. Clifton who was Judge of the Circuit Court and Clerk of 
the High Court of Errors and Appeals, was the father of Hon. Oliver 
Clifton, a lawyer by profession, who has represented the county in the 
Legislature, and is now and has been for many years Clerk of the 
Supreme Court of the State; 

Austin Morgan, whose widow, son and daughter reside in the city of 
Jackson; 

David Shelton, who came from Tennessee in 1836, and from the date of 
his location has kept constantly in the line of his profession, 
occupying high rank as a lawyer, and for a half century has had an 
extensive practice, and is among the most substantial and honored 
citizens of the capital city; 

Edward S. Farish, came to Jackson in 1833, and was awarded the contract 
for the carpenter’s work on the State House; he was father of four 
sons, one of whom, Ned. Farish, a superior mechanic, an honorable and 
upright man, is now a resident of Jackson; 

James Redfearn, a farmer and successful stockraiser, settled in Hinds 
in 1833, but has long been a highly esteemed citizen of Rankin; 

Wm. J. Brown, now in his seventy-sixth year, came to Jackson as a 
printer in 1836; he is now a successful merchant, having the confidence 
of the community in which he has so long resided; 

Herbert Spengler came to Jackson fifty-four years ago; he was 
accumulated a valuable estate, and is the head of a large family; his 
sons are established in business, and are thrifty and prosperous young 
men. Spengler’s Corner is one of the landmarks of the city, and 
known to visitors throughout the State that are in the habit of 
frequenting the capital. 

Major Craft, father of the late Dr. M. S. Craft, a gentlemen of high 
character, splendid address, a distinguished physician, a surgeon of 
wide reputation and greatly esteemed by his large circle of friends and 
patrons; 

Jas. Tolbert, Richard and Chas. Webber, C. C. Mason, a lawyer, Hon. 
Thos. J. Wharton, a native of Tennessee, who came to Clinton in 1836; 
soon after completing his collegiate course, he practiced his 
profession for a number of years with marked success, when he was 
elected Attorney General of the State, the duties of which he performed 
with great acceptability for two terms; he was subsequently circuit 
judge of the capital district for six years, a lawyer of distinction, 
scholarly attainments and universally esteemed. 

Hon. James Rucks was circuit judge in his native State Tennessee, and 
after locating in Jackson, practiced his profession for a number of 
years; Judge Rucks was the father of a numerous family; his son James, 
was an intelligent and excellent lawyer. Judge Rucks was the father-in-
law of the late Hon. Wm. Yerger, who was among Mississippi’s ablest 
men, a great lawyer, and the readiest man of his day; although a Whig 
in politics, he was elected in a Democratic District, Judge of the High 
Court of Errors and Appeals; he was a State Senator in 1863, and a 
delegate to the Convention of 1865; a learned lawyer and able advocate, 
he had few equals, he reared a large family; his son, Capt. Jas. R. 
Yerger, is a well known and intelligent lawyer residing at the capital.

A. C. Baine, editor of the Flag of the Union, a newspaper published in 
Jackson years ago; James H. Kerr, father of Captain R. C. Kerr, now 
Register of the United States Land Office at Jackson, a position which 
he held under a former administration. 

Charles H. Manship, an expert painter, has always manifested much 
interest in the benevolent institutions located at the capital and for 
years he has been a trustee of some one of them; he has reared a large 
family and is now seventy-eight years of age, but manifests a warm 
interest in every enterprise that promises prosperity to the city. 

D. N. Barrows, who served the city as chief magistrate, and widely 
known as an accurate, fair-minded and successful business man. 

Alexander Virden, a native of Delaware, now seventy-six years of age, 
was one of the early merchants of Jackson; has seen the place grow from 
an insignificant village to its present proportions; he has passed 
unscathed through the financial ordeals occurring during the last half 
century, maintaining his high business integrity, and now, at his 
advanced age, can well afford to confide the management of his large 
mercantile interests to his three capable sons whom he has trained to 
business habits and methods, and who have already high commercial 
standing.

The late Edmund Richardson, whose business career was most successful, 
worked for a monthly salary first at Clinton and afterwards at Brandon, 
where he resided many years. At the time of his death, which occurred 
suddenly at Jackson, his home was in New Orleans. He had accumulated 
several millions of dollars.

The late George C. Fearn, was also a merchant in an early day, as was 
T. M. Ellis and John C. McAlister.

The John W. Robinson was for a number of years associated with Edmund 
Richardson. He had energy, tact, business capacity and superior 
judgment, and accumulated a handsome fortune; his two sons are engaged 
in merchandising. His son-in-law, who was with him in business for many 
years, Robert L. Saunders, is a man of affairs, bright, intelligent and 
enterprising, and one of Jackson’s leading and progressive citizens. 
Capt. Jno P. Stevens was also associated with Mr. Robinson, and is now 
one of Jackson’s solid and substantial citizens.

Steven P. Bailey, at one time mayor of Jackson, father of Henry Bailey 
and the late Doctor P. T. Bailey. Doctor Bailey did an extensive 
practice for many years, was gifted in his profession; with a warm and 
tender heart, he administered to his long list of patients, almost to 
the very day of his death.

The late Joshua and Thomas Green, natives of Maryland, who were widely 
known in business circles as men of enterprise. Prior to the war they 
established a cotton factory which was burned by the Federal troops 
during hostilities, thus reducing to ashes the accumulation of years of 
labor and toil. Each of the Messrs. Green reared large families, all of 
whom are highly respected;

John Shelton, Esq., of Raymond, a lawyer of ability, high character;

Matt D. Patton, father of the late John W. Patton;

the late Hyman, Phillip, Marcus and Samuel Hilzheim. They were 
merchants and business men and have descendants in this and Washington 
county, all of whom are highly respected.

Hon. George W. Harper, of Raymond, who has represented the county in 
the Legislature and a successful journalist of large experience.

Wm. C. Richards, cashier of the Planters’ Bank, John and Thomas Graves, 
James E. White, the owner of Whites’ Mills, once on Pearl river, Harry 
Long, W. W. and D. C. Young, merchants;

Hon. George Adams, appointed by President Jackson, District Judge of 
the United States Court for Mississippi, the duties of which he ably 
discharged for many years. He was the father of Generals Wirt and 
Daniel W. Adams. The former an educated, cultured, courtly gentleman, 
high bearing, full of courage and splendid address, was a Brigadier 
General in the Confederate service and postmaster of the city of 
Jackson, under Cleveland’s administration, at the time of his death. 
His only son, who bears the name of his honored father, has been for 
six years State Revenue Agent. Daniel W. Adams was a lawyer of decided 
ability, represented the county in the State Senate and was a Brigadier 
General in the Confederate army, resided in New Orleans at the time of 
his death.

Hon. Collin S. Tarpley, an able and widely known lawyer, who did an 
extensive and lucrative practice. Members of his family, honored and 
respected, still reside near their old home.

R. L. Dixon, a lawyer of high standing
The late Doctor Wm. M. Gwin, afterwards a United States Senator from 
California;

William Clark, a minister of the Christian church, and at one time 
State Treasurer, he was the father of the late Robert A. and Col. Wm. 
H. Clarke, both lawyers of good standing, the former has descendants 
still residing in Jackson; the latter, who was a Colonel in the 
Confederate army and fell at the head of his regiment at the battle of 
Altoona, has an only son who bears his father’s name, a young and 
bright lawyer at Dallas, Texas.

Doctor Silas Brown, an early and prominent physician of Jackson;
Doctor W. S. Langley, referred to elsewhere in this volume;
The late Samuel Lemly, a prompt, reliable and successful merchant, who 
has several sons, leading merchants in their respective lines, of 
Jackson;
Jacob Kausler, an honored citizen, who has reared a large family;
H. E. Sizer, a large dealer in carriages, buggies, etc., whose two 
daughters still reside in the city of Jackson;

Later came Messrs. E. and S. Virden, natives of the State of Delaware, 
who engaged in merchandising and have been eminently successful and are 
classed among the most substantial and prosperous merchants in the 
State.

Hinds county has 362,227 acres of cleared land; average value ........ 
total value including incorporated towns $3,748. 

The population of this county, as shown by the census report of 1890: 
Whites, 10,685; colored, 28,577; total 39,262.

Hinds county has the honor of having the Capital within her borders, 
the location and description of which will be referred to elsewhere.

The principal towns of the county are Jackson, Clinton, Raymond, the 
county seat, Edwards, Bolton, Utica, Terry, Learned, Adams, Oakley, 
Byram and Tougaloo.

The principal streams in the county are Pearl river, which forms its 
eastern boundary; Baker’s Creek and Big Black on the western border; 
Tallahala, Bogue Chitto, Rhodes and Big Creeks.

The railroads in the county are the Illinois Central, traversing the 
county from north to South; the Alabama & Vicksburg, running east and 
west, crosses the Illinois Central at Jackson; the Natchez, Jackson & 
Columbus Railroad, running from Natchez to Jackson, and the Yazoo 
branch of the Illinois Central, running from Jackson to Greenwood, 
altogether making Jackson a great railroad center.

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